Alexei Ratmansky, Artistic Director of Ballet at the Bolshoi, has announced he is to step down in order to accept a post at New York City Ballet.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/arts/dance/05ball.html?_r=2&ex=1359954000&en=1bd63e1cc654340f&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Ratmansky is reported to have been extremely frustrated with pig-headed burocracy and archaic working-practices that have made his time at the Bolshoi quite miserable - the same frustrations which it is alleged Gergiev has wished to avoid when he's been sought for the Music Director post (allegedly twice, and he's declined both times).

Ratmansky hopes to leave the paper-pushing and budgetary arguments behind in his new post, which is strictly as a Choreographer, and not as a Director.

His departure will be a loss for the Bolshoi, although they are probably not likely to want to admit it.  Ratmansky has not only choreographed new work of his own,  but brought in other major world choreographers too.  Above and beyond all that, he has restored the ballet's technical prowess by insisting - like every other major ballet house in the world - that all company members attend "class" on a daily basis,  and that a demanding sequence of technical requirements are practiced.   Having dragged the Bolshoi kicking and screaming back to at least parity with the Mariinsky,  whoever the new incumbent is will face an uphill struggle to maintain artistic discipline in a company which is highly disinclined to wish to maintain it.